An Irreverent Fanzine.
Est. 1984

Cap’n Jazz were one of those mythical bands I never thought I would get to see live. I first learned of them years ago while I was still in high school through a pitchfork video that gave a surface level history about the emo genre. It covered a few of the many bands that not only changed the sound of hardcore at the time but are still seen as influential to this day. Hearing that snippet of Oh Messy Life had me entranced and led me down the Kinsella brothers rabbit hole where I learned about all of the bands they have been in and how they had influenced pretty much all of my favorite bands at the time. From the advent of post-hardcore to the creation of midwest emo, the influence of Tim and Mike Kinsella cannot be understated.

Stay tuned in August to WholesomeRadio.

How y'all like the new showz? Give us some feedback in the comments below or email us at: radio@wholso.me

A legfish inspired by 1940s cartoons. Made in Krita.

So apparently Legfish has this weird power...

Prepare yourself for a wild, electrified evening because WholesomeWax artists known as Siderunners are about to obliterate the stage at this year’s Ravenswood on Tap Craft Beer & Music Fest! This July 20 at 1:20 PM Forget everything you thought you knew about live performances—these guys don’t just play music, they launch it like a sonic rocket straight into your soul.

So apparently Legfish has this weird power...

So apparently Legfish has this weird power...

So apparently Legfish has this weird power...

A group of young women worship the ancient deity, the Legfish. This powerful fish is Wholesome Zine’s mascot, honoring their shirts with his sacred image. One girl doesn’t believe in the Legfish’s fearsome power, and doesn’t wear any of Wholesome Zine’s sick merch. The terrifying Legfish returns, peaking around a wall to look at them from deep in the darkness.

Legfish checks up on an old friend | A collab comic strip with INFO-TAPES

Winter - Themed Tarot Card Reading, Original Illustrations by Renee Miller of the cards: The High Priestess, and The Queen of Cups.

Legfish shares with a musician the truth about perfect practice

A young woman sits down for a picnic in the woods. She notices the beauty of her surroundings as she gives herself the time to be patient and enjoy the present. Warm fall colors surround her as she sips her tea, taking it all in and thinking about how she feels in this moment. She looks up at a large tree above her and smiles to herself.

Legfish tries to search for a song they heard with a music finding app. Surely it functions properly...

Halloween Tarot Card Reading, The Moon, The Star, The Sun, The Fool, The Magician. Original Illustrations.

Kindergartener Clay finds their dream Halloween costume, the Barbie Princess Cat, and tries it on right when they get home. Powchie the cat thinks that Clay is a real life, huge pink cat and knows he has to protect Mom by growling at Clay and getting ready to attack. Mom tries to take the cat ears off of Clay so Powchie will realize it’s just Clay, but he’s not convinced, so Mom protects Clay by yelling.

A little comic featuring 3 historical musical figures.

The Legfish struggles to navigate the city streets, but a familiar sound calls to it, leading to a mysterious shoppe…

The Legfish struggles to navigate the city streets, but a familiar sound calls to it, leading to a mysterious shoppe…

Check out this political cartoon!

Wholesome’s mascot, the Legfish, is on one of their daily adventures. If you’ve ever wondered how the Legfish gets wholesomely stylish, take a look!

Hot on the trail of the latest clue, the Legfish decides to ask the locals for directions. After all, on the journey to get Wholesome, we could all use a helping hand— or leg!

Pt. 2 The Story Continues…

The Legfish ventures into new territory and makes a surprising discovery! Could this clue lead our intrepid friend to Wholesomeness?

Zack enters wholesome to discover an intruder, he enlists the help of Stacy.

The adventures of Wholesome’s mascot, the Legfish, told in comic form! In this week’s strip, our red-finned hero finds a wise new friend, asks for some advice, and makes a big decision. Sometimes the path to Wholesomeness may take us out of our comfort zones…

The adventures of Wholesome’s mascot, the Legfish, told in comic form! In this week’s strip, we see the Legfish take its first steps (pun intended) on the journey to get wholesome. Take a closer look below!

WholesomeZine Brings You Wholesome Chats…

Rick Sniegowski of Lime Forest has a nice Wholesome Chat with Catriona a Creative Maker!

WholesomeZine Brings You Wholesome Chats…

Rick Sniegowski of Lime Forest has a nice Wholesome Chat with Justin Bell of ROOKIE

WholesomeZine Brings You Wholesome Chats…

Rick Sniegowski of Lime Forest has a nice Wholesome Chat with Nick Georgelos of The Tomblands!

a.k.a. nio.ninja..nuf said

Need top gear for tasty tones?! Rock N Roll Vintage

Need Apps, We Got Apps! A collaborative team of the best developers across the U.S. and the globe. Arrested Dev is brought to by people who care about making kick ass apps.

thee arthur layne..nuf said

While I do not remember exactly the first time I heard a Julie song, I do know that they have not left my listening habits since then. Their single 2020 “Flutter” Immediately captures the listeners attention with a cacophony of sounds that cannot be traced back to one single genre or a single influence. They are a mix of shoegaze, post-punk, and post-grunge all into one, needless to say I was hooked. Since then I have eagerly awaited the announcement of their debut album, and now “my anti-aircraft friend” has arrived and it is everything I was hoping it would be.

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

Julian Allen reviews “METRO BOOMIN PRESENTS SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (SOUNDTRACK FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE)” by Metro Boomin

Delaney Jaronik reviews ARENA by Pixel Grip.

ericdoa

things with wings

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

Amanda Burris reviews Flipturn’s newest EP, “Halfway / Brooklyn Baby.”

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

DJ Angel Ghost reviews “Emitt Rhodes” by Emitt Rhodes

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

Jeanne Dunn reviews “Structures” by Water From Your Eyes

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

Jeanne Dunn reviews “Came Down Different” by Pardoner

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

Jeanne Dunn reviews “Songs for a Scientist” by Post Office Winter

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

DJ Lobo reviews “You Thought We Left Because the Door Was Open but We Were Waiting Outside“by The Red Pears

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

DJ Cheddarwurst reviews Investments by Home Entertainment

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

DJ Lobo reviews Year of the Rat by Geezer Senior

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

DJ Cheddarwurst reviews Superstar by Caroline Rose

WholesomeRadio Album Feature

DJ Cheddarwurst reviews Anadolu Pop by Moğollar

Mambo Pa'Chango

Even in the context of 1940s and early 1950s Afro Cuban music history, Alberto Iznaga seems virtually forgotten. He led what he called "Su Orquesta Siboney" in NYC for many years, and he made many records for major American labels as well as for much smaller labels specializing in latin music and mambo. This side for Decca from 1950 is one hot mambo and it notes Chango/Shango an Orisha! It was written by Obdulio Morales, who researched Afro Cuban traditions, and was as well a pianist and composer. Too bad there does not seem to be any Iznaga collections, because much of his output was very jazz, quite sophisticated, and very strong!

Llorá

Chano Pozo's Llora was initially recorded by the famous Orquesta Casino de la Playa, in 1946, with Cascarita singing and Perez Prado leading the band. Before the 1940s ended, and perhaps while Pozo was still alive (he died 12/03/48) it was recorded by Jose Curbelo in the US with Tito Rodriguez singing. Curbelo had come to the US in 1939 and he bounced around from the better paying, latin hotel bands (including Xavier Cugat's band) until he formed his own. Many future latin stars worked in his band, including Tito Puente and of course, the singer and band leader Tito Rodriguez!

RINKY DINK

The late 1950s and early 1960s rock scene in the Pacific Northwest was in some ways extraordinary. Most of the bands were influenced by great r&b and r&b tinged jazz, and many of them were very influenced by the Bill Doggett sound and approach, which always included organ and tenor sax. This goes for Paul Revere and the Raiders. Though some of their earliest music shows surf aspects (Orbit, their cover of Moon Dawg) The Raiders also covered the organ and sax thing, doing Allnight Long (Joe Houston, Rusty Bryant), Night Train, and this cover of a Baby Cortez big hit. It might not have the slinky qualities of the original, but whoever the sax player is, he had a strong go at sounding like early King Curtis, especially after the two minute mark. And seriously, it could BE Mark Lindsay! Cut in 1963 for the Sande label, for which the band recorded Louie Louie before it was picked up by Columbia.

Echale Tierra Y Tápala

Myrta Silva began her singing career before she was a teen. She wrote a song that Daniel Santos had a hit with when she was 15. By 1947 she was recording with the orchestra of Julio Gutierrez and soon she was known as 'the queen of the guaracha'. And so we have a very lively guaracha on tap, with some mambo touches-flourishes and a great piano solo either from Gutierrez himself or perhaps his favorite other pianist, Peruchin!

Take Me Back (Destination 635)

Chicago rock group The Flock, when they were on Columbia in 1969, were very much a jazzy fusion of rock and minor classical strains via violinist Jerry Goodman. Goodman did not join and record with the band until their 45 on U.S.A. in mid 1968. The earlier 45s  reveal a band capable of some exacting, uptown soul, and sometimes they sounded like a cross of The Spiral Staircase and the more updated aspects of The Four Seasons. This side is a good example. It is really tight pop-rock-soul, with excellent horns, and no violin at all!

Dynamo A

While in Paris Don Byas continued to play and record with Peanuts Holland and Billy Taylor, and in January of 1947, he waxed this bebop gem. Everyone plays and makes this slice of bebop quite juicy! It should be pointed out that this tune is, by any other name Dizzy Atmosphere, and was actually first done by Dizzy Gillespie as Dynamo A and the original Byas 78 gave Gillespie credit.